Quick answer
Use the Subtle preset in PDF2Scan: under 1° rotation, 10–15% noise, 0.1 px blur and contrast around 55–60%. Export at 200 dpi (PRO) when the invoice has small numbers or a barcode, and check totals at 200% zoom before sending. Several receipts can become one scanned PDF with PRO merge.
Key takeaways
- Subtle beats Office for invoices: numbers matter more than character.
- Blur is the enemy of totals and barcodes; keep it at 0.1 px.
- 200 dpi keeps small digits crisp.
- Receipts photographed with a phone need cropping first.
- Merge a month of receipts into one scanned PDF with PRO.
Recommended settings
| Setting | Invoice (A4/Letter) | Thermal receipt | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preset | Subtle | Subtle | Keeps digits crisp |
| Rotation | 0.3–1° | 0.5–1.5° | Small, natural tilt |
| Noise | 10–15% | 15–25% | Paper texture |
| Blur | 0.1 px | 0.1–0.2 px | Totals stay sharp |
| Contrast | 55–60% | 60–70% | Receipts are often faint |
| Paper tint | 0–5% | 0–10% | Thermal paper is slightly warm |
| Resolution | 200 dpi (PRO) | 200–300 dpi (PRO) | Small digits and barcodes |
Step by step
- Open the scan tool and drop the invoice PDF or receipt image (crop phone photos first).
- Apply Subtle.
- Raise contrast slightly if the source is faint; keep blur at 0.1 px.
- Zoom into totals, tax IDs and barcodes in Split view.
- Export as PDF. For many receipts, use PRO batch or merge them into one PDF.
Pre-export checklist
- Invoice number, dates, totals and tax IDs readable at 200% zoom.
- Tables keep their lines; no merged digits.
- Barcodes and QR codes still have clean edges.
- File is within the accounting portal’s size limit.
- Original kept for your records.
Use the effect to match a required format or your own archive style. Never use it to alter amounts or to present a document as something it is not.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use this for a multi-page invoice PDF?
Yes. Every page is processed, and you can review each one before exporting.
What settings keep numbers readable?
Subtle preset, blur at 0.1 px, rotation under 1°, moderate noise, and 200 dpi for small digits.
Can I combine several receipts into one PDF?
Yes, with PDF2Scan PRO you can merge up to 10 files into one scanned PDF counted as a single export.
Is my invoice uploaded anywhere?
No. PDF2Scan processes files locally in your browser.